Photo: Ryan Sawatzky
1st – Winkler Flyers (+2)
Last week: 2-0-1
Overall: 16-6-1
Playing consistent, heavy, defensively solid hockey has led to a lot of success for the Flyers. Don’t need to outscore problems because there are so few areas that are problems. Top to bottom a solid team.
Key Player: Nicholas McKee – 1 goal, 3 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Nov. 29th @ Selkirk, Dec. 1st vs WPG Blues
2nd – Niverville Nighthawks (+5)
Last week: 2-0
Overall: 14-8-1
A very impressive pair of victories. Playing strong, structured hockey and everyone is playing their role, which equals a very difficult team to get the better of. The blueprint or success has been established.
Key Player: Adam Vigfusson – 4 goals, 1 assist in 2 games
Up Next: Nov. 27th vs Selkirk, Dec. 29th @ Northern Manitoba, Nov. 30th @ Swan Valley Dec. 3rd @ Selkirk
3rd – Selkirk Steelers (+5)
Last week: 2-0
Overall: 15-7-0-1
A bit of a statement against one of the top teams in the league and on the road, no less. Stingy defense and timely goals for is something the group has learned how to win with. Big stretch of games ahead if they truly want playoffs.
Key Player: Rohan Guevarra – 3 goals, 1 assist in 2 games
Up Next: Nov. 27th @ Niverville, Nov. 29th vs Winkler, Dec. 3rd vs Niverville
4th – Winnipeg Freeze (+7)
Last week: 2-0
Overall: 3-14-1-2
Back-to-back wins, climbing out of the basement of the MGEU East Division. Elite level goaltending gets some well-deserved recognition. Lots to feel good about recently for the group. Positives vibes all around.
Key Player: Thomas Gale – 2 goals, 1 assist in 2 games
Up Next: Nov. 27th vs Virden, Nov. 29th vs Neepawa, Dec. 4th vs Steinbach
5th – Neepawa Titans (+1)
Last week: 2-1
Overall: 15-6-0-1
Another solid stretch keeping the Titans closer to the top of the MGEU West than the bottom. Scoring has not been an issue as the group is second in the division with 83 goals. They’re also second in goals against at 90.
Key Player: Caden Hegarty – 3 goals in 3 games
Up Next: Nov. 29th @ WPG Freeze, Dec. 4th @ Portage
6th – Waywayseecappo Wolverines (+4)
Last week: 2-0-1
Overall: 8-12-1
Banking points through one of their toughest stretches of the season. Keeping pace with the team they’re chasing down for the final playoff spot. Staff have the team on the same page and things are starting to click. Exciting times ahead.
Key Player: Deegan Wapass – 1 goal, 1 assist in 2 games
Up Next: Nov. 29th @ Portage, Nov. 30th vs Portage, Dec. 3rd vs Virden
7th – Dauphin Kings (-3)
Last week: 1-1
Overall: 12-8-1
The one step forward, one step back continues for the Kings. They’re in a solid position atop the MGEU West Division but have had chances to run away and hide but just haven’t strung together a stretch of strong games leading to results.
Key Player: Havryil Simchuk – 1 goal in 2 games
Up Next: Nov. 29th vs Selkirk, Dec. 30th @ Virden. Dec. 3rd @ Northern Manitoba
8th – Virden Oil Capitals (+1)
Last week: 1-0
Overall: 10-12
Two points are two points. Have picked up a 3-game win streak to keep them in that final playoff spot. The team chasing them has also used up their games in hand. Still finding the balance between giving up nothing and getting little themselves.
Key Player: Carson Wright – 1 goal in 1 game
Up Next: Nov. 27th @ WPG Freeze, Nov. 29th @ Dauphin, Nov. 30th vs Dauphin, Dec. 3rd @ Waywayseecappo
9th – Steinbach Pistons (-8)
Last week: 0-2
Overall: 17-4-1
Tough stretches will happen, it’s how good teams respond that can make them great. After a lengthy stretch of everything going their way, the group has scored just 2 goals in 2 games. A tough weekend ahead but will look to right the ship while still atop the league.
Key Player: Reece Gault – 1 goal in 2 games
Up Next: Nov. 29th @ Swan Valley, Nov. 30th @ Northern Manitoba, Dec. 4th @ WPG Freeze
10th – Portage Terriers (-8)
Last week: 0-3
Overall: 16-9
Good teams will lose to good teams. It happens over the course of a long season. The Terriers know they can come back in games. They’ll be looking to grow their game in other areas to be even more dangerous. Better now than in March.
Key Player: Adam Belzil – 2 goals in 3 games
Up Next: Nov. 29th vs Waywayseecappo, Nov. 30th @ Waywayseecappo, Dec. 4th vs Neepawa
11th – Northern Manitoba Blizzard (-6)
Last week: 0-2
Overall: 15-8-0-1
Just when top spot in the division comes within reach, it somehow remains just out of grasp. They’ll be right there in the conversation for top spot throughout the year and it might be a matter of once they get there, they don’t let it go.
Key Player: Brett Ward – 1 goal, 1 assist in 2 games
UP Next: Nov. 29th vs Niverville, Nov. 30th vs Steinbach, Nov. 3rd vs Dauphin
12th – Swan Valley Stampeders (+1)
Last week: 1-1
Overall: 3-18-2-1
Starting to earn the bounces they work so hard for. Still struggling to capture lightning in a bottle and make a serious push but no matter the outcome, their opponent knows they’ve been in a tough game.
Key Player: Will Brown – 1 goal, 6 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Nov. 29th vs Steinbach, Nov. 30th vs Niverville,
13th – Winnipeg Blues (-1)
Last week: 0-2
Overall: 3-18-1-1
Another stretch and the same thing. Goals for an issue, goals against an issue, special teams an issue. It’s just a tough stretch where the positives are few and far between. Still young, they can hope the scars now will help for the future.
Key Player: Carson White – 1 goal in 2 games
Up Next: Dec. 1st @ Winkler